riph72

Hello all,

I'm very likely to be buying an Octy Estate 4x4 (current version) in the next few weeks/months, but I'm undecided about which engine to get (2.0 FSI, 1.9 TDI, 2.0 TDI).
One thing that concerns me about the TDIs is their reliability, specifically the turbo system.
Is failure normally due to abuse, or lack of care warming/cooling? Or is failure less predictable than that? I'm a fairly casual driver the vast majority of the time, although I'm not afraid to put my foot down!
How likely is turbo failure to cause major damage to the engine itself?
The fuel economy of the 2.0 FSI is nowhere near the TDIs, but when I factor in economy, road tax, purchase price and the possibility of having to replace the turbo (and maybe more) one day, the picture is less certain!

Regards,
Richard.

cheezemonkhai

The TDIs should be fine, if you keep to fixed interval servicing seems to be the current view.

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riph72

It seems odd that VW would use this variable servicing option if there are issues with reliability? Is there much evidence to back this up?
If I bought a car set up for variable servicing, what would I need to do to get it changed to fixed?
Is this mostly down to turbos and oil quality with the extended intervals?

Cheers,
Richard.

cheezemonkhai

Do a search on here and there is plenty around on the net from what i've heard.

I ran variable, but have started doing an extra oil change at 10k. I've always done air filters at 10k too, but the difference in the engine smoothness, noise and general pull after the extra change from old long life oil to new long life oil was amazing.

Night and day.

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riph72

Am I right in thinking they use slightly different grade oil when servicing variable v fixed interval?
So you are using the better long life oil (intended for variable service) but doing fixed servicing (kind of)?

I'll do some searching and see what I find...

cheezemonkhai

On the one out of warrenty It gets the variable service at the dealer using VW507 oil and then at 9-10k I'll be doing a new filter and new VW507 oil.

That means the car is on the longlife oil, but it gets clean stuff half way through and a new filter too.

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Browny_37

As far as i can see, my 1.9TDI has always had variable service's and that was up to 117k....i've always done my oil changes at 6k on my vauxhalls.

The TDI is going to see the 10k changes, personally i wouldn't do near on 20k before a oil change.
Especially in a diesel, the amount of carbon thats dumped into the oil is amazing.
Drain the old oil out and change the filter, refill with fresh oil.....start it up and allow it to tick over for 1-2mins and then top up if need be. To find the oil has gone black already!


As for turbo units, mines now on 121k and as far as service schedule's etc etc its only ever had the Dual Mass Flywheel and clutch done at 108k.
I has had a reconditioned gearbox though, as it had been run with low oil and 2 shot mounts (engine/gearbox).

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riph72

Hmm, after reading these posts and everything else I've dug up, I think I might go for fixed servicing. I'll try and get a car with less than 10k on the clock, then I can follow the fixed schedule when it reaches 10k (assuming it's less than a year old too!).

The next question is what oil spec I should use...!

Cheers,
Richard.

cheezemonkhai

VW504/VW507.0 longlife oil is what I use.

(Halfords sell 5L of that for £40ish which is a good price for that oil.)

I am thinking if I leave the car on variable service, then replace the oil half way through at about 9k-10k miles then that's the same as the fixed servicing with less cost.

I'd also change the following:

- Air filter (every 10-15k)
- Oil filter (as above with oil change)
- Fuel filter (at 40 not 60k)

Hope that helps

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soldatov

Hi
We have fixed on both Octy at 15,000km and used same method on our elderly Nissan 2lt diesel . I do admit that as we are mainly doing motorway driving, and even staying away sometimes, the timing gets in the way a little. It means we tend to go in a little early for the service on our own cars ,( more concerned I suppose) yet the company mk 1 Octy 06 plate tends to skip over the kms call period, because its used as a pool vehicle, yet stays within the warranty. Anyway both TDI are very reliable, doing 40,000+ km each year using this method.

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Octy 2, 1.9 TDI PD Ambiente 4x4 Combi and Nissan Sunny 2.0 DLX, Company Octy 1.9 TDI Tour Combi.

riph72

Thanks. How does your scheme work out cheaper than just using a fixed scheme? Aren't you basically "doubling up" on the variable service, i.e. doing the fixed service in all but name? Or do you mean it's less trips to the dealer for servicing (hence the cost savings) but keeps your service record in order incase you sell... but you have the benefit of knowing it's actually been serviced better than it looks?

cheezemonkhai

Doing a DIY oil change costs about £50

A full variable service is about £200 to £250 here

A fixed service is about £200 here.

Even if the variable is £250 add the extra £50 and I'm still £100 better off.

As for the service record, yes that is intact for sale, plus I know the oil is good.

The reason I said about the air and fuel filter is that the times given for them are optimistic at best. If you ever see an air filter that has done 40k miles you will see that it is filthy and when you change it you gain up to 5-10mpg that you have gradually been loosing over time. (I did anyway)

The fuel filter early is because a few cars I know of that were struggling to fun and a new filter solved it. The dealer in question said they blocked and it was just a case of it being too long. For that reason I'd rather change it early for minimal cost and know that the thing is doing it's job properly.

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riph72

When you say "here", you mean at your local dealer?
I suppose ideally you want to do your extra oil change half way between the variable services, but how can you accurately predict when this will be?
Do you have a copy of the service schedule available (variable and fixed)? Or is it available online anywhere?

cheezemonkhai

It's in the handbook.

As for guessing, well I do m/way miles and in every car I've had with variable I've got maximum interval. All I did was wait until half of that 9-10k miles and change it.

Here I mean a main dealer in southern England.

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riph72

I haven't actually got a Skoda yet (although I am now 90% looking to be getting one, once circumstances allow), so I don't yet have access to a handbook. Although until I get one, it might not be worth worrying about too much. But I'd like to know which schedule I'll prefer incase I can get it switched at time of purchase, by the dealer.
Is it available online anywhere, that you know of? I'll do a search and see what I can come up with. I might get hold of a workshop manual, perhaps I'll post a seperate thread about this...
Cheers,
Richard.

smstext

I have a 2.0 fsi regularly get 35-45mpg out of it. if you click on the fuel symbol below you will see how my car has performed between fills. last two fills were an average 39mpg and my drives tend to be 5-10 miles at a time so needs to warm up too. managed a 50mpg drive from mine to swmbos last week (10 miles) which i was a bit light footed. booting it hard on the same journey will see it drop down to 30-35mpg and a normal drive of 40-45 mpg.

Hope that helps.

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cheezemonkhai

So significantly less than both the 2.0TDI and 1.9TDI for the same style of driving then.

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smstext

well i would guess so as mine is petrol fsi and your quoting a diesel (tdi). a diesel i would expect to get 55mpg

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